Automatic carton-machine.



E. CRAIG.

AUTOMATIC CARTON MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 1. 1909.

mamas, Patented Nov. 23, 1915 7 SHEETS5HEET I g J.

E. CRAIG.

AUTOMATIC CARTON MACHINE. APPLICATION ElLED JULY 1. 1909.

Patepted Nov. 23, 1915.

7 SHEETSSHEET 2.

i. CRAIG.

AUTOMATIC CARTON MACHINE. APPLICATION man JULY 1, 1909;

Patentefi Nov. 23, 1915 7 SHEETSSHEET 3- E. CRAIG.

AUTOMATIC CARTON MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1. 1909.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915,

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4- mm ss.

E. CRAIG.

AUTOMATIC CARTON MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 1, 1909.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

M KWM E. CRAIG.

- AUTOMATIC CARTON MACHINE.

APPLlCATION man 1pm I, 1909.

1.,lfi1fl33. I Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

E. CRAIG. AUTOMATIC CARTON MACHINE.

APPLICATHJN HLED JULY 1' 1909.

' Patented Nov. 23, 1915,

7 SHEETSSHEET 7- alllllllllllllll EDWARD CR IG, or sr. .iosErH, rarer-risen, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To sAaANAc MACHINE 00., or ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFLMICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC GARTdN-MACHJQNE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.23,1l915.

Application filed July 1, 1909. Serial No. 505.490.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, EDWARD CRAIG, a c1t1- zen of the United States of America, and resident of St. Joseph, Berricn county, Michigan, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Carton- Machines, of which the following is a spec1- fication.

My invention relates to machinery for making cartons or boxes.

It relates more particularly to machinery for making square or rectangular boxes which are each provided .with a folding cover. Cartons or boxes of this kind'are' ordinarily made of paste-board, which material is folded to provide a carton or box having straight sides and ends, a fiat bottom, anda cover flexibly secured to the upperedge of one of the side walls. The side walls have flaps which are folded upon the surfaces of the ,end walls. Cartons or boxes of this particular character are used for various purposes and are very popular.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine which will receive the. sheet of cardboard in blank form and fold and staple the same to produce a carton or box of this particular character. It contemplates a machine having a hopper in which the blanks are held, and fro-m which the same are fed automatically to the forming and stapling devices, whereby each blank is automatically folded and then stapled together to provide a carton or box of the desiredshape and character. More broadly considered, it contemplates a machine which will automatically fold and secure the-sheet material together, thereby providing a carton or box having sides and ends extending at right anglesto each other, as Well as at right angles to the bottom, and an integral cover in the'plane of one side wall. The

1 nature of my invention will, however, hereton from the machine. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary or detail'perspective view of the mechanism for folding the blanks. Fig. 11 is a perspective of one of the strippers for releasing the finished carton from the plunger when the lattermoves downward. Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the reciprocating table and the stationary support upon which the same rests. Figs. 13 and 14. are detail views of certain devices for assisting in the folding of the end walls of the carton. F ig.15 is a perspective of the blank from which the carton is made. Fig. 16 is a perspective of the finished carton. Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the plunger and form shownin Fig. 7. Fig. 18 shows a form of boX or carton requiring two staples for each end. Fig. 19 shows a box or carton of such form that the flaps do not lap. Fig. 20 shows a form of box or carton in which the flaps are inside of the end walls.

As thus illustrated, my invention com prises a frame or body A adapted to support the various operative parts in suitably elevated positions. At itstop the said frame is provided with a horizontal support a upon which rests a reciprocating table B, which latter is provided on its upper surface with teeth I). These teeth are adapted to engage the edges of the blanks to feed them forward. The said reciprocating table is operated by a -lever 72 connected therewith by links 6 and having its lower end pivoted at 6 This lever b is operated by a cam 12* connected therewith by means of a strap 6 which cam is carried on the drive shaft C. The hopper D is disposed over the said reciprocating table, and is adapted to receive the blank E, shown in Fig. 15, and shown more clearly by Fig. 5. The said blank consists of a bottom 6, side walls 6', end walls 6 and end flaps e e together with a cover a integral with the upper edge of one placed in the hopper, it will be seen that the covers 6 extend forward in the direction in which the blanks are to be fed. Each blank when fed forward rides over an inclined stationary member 6, so that the forward edgeof the central portion of each blank is caused to bend slightly upwardly, as shown in Fig. 6. This upwardly displaced portion of the blank is then caused to pass under afinger b, which latter projects downwardly very close to the top of the member 6 there being just room for a single blank to pass. Consequently, if two or more blanks have been accidentally-fed forward by the reciprocating table,.only one blank can then pass between the member I) and the finger 6 as the space between the two will not admit more than one blank. The blank thus fed forward is then seized by a pair of feed rolls 6 which are operated by a sprocket chain connection I)", as shown in Fig. 3. This sprocket chain leads to a sprocket 12 on the shaft 6, which latter has a gear connection Z) with the shaft U, as shown in Fig. 1. In thisway the blanks are automatically fed forward to the forming and stapling mechanisms, which latter are as follows: The folding and forming mechanisms comprise a vertically disposed plunger F, which is rectangular in shape,-

and thereby adapted to fit the interior of the square corner carton. The lower end of this plunger has a-link f'that connects it with a strap f which is operated by the cam f I and which has its rear end pivoted at f to the upper end of a link f which latter has its lower end pivoted at f. Rotation of the cam f causes the plunger F to move up and down in its housing or bearing 7. The said housing carries the upper strippers f which i are adapted to engage the edges of the ends I of the carton, when the latter is finished,

thereby disengaging the finished carton from the plunger. The lower strippers f serve to engage the lower edge of the cover of the carton, thereby assisting in lifting the same off fI'OIIL-ilhQ plunger. The strippers f are joined at the back of the plunger to form a back stripper f which'latter engages the lower edge of the'side of the carton. The housing for the plunger is provided with a pivoted finger or knock-out device 7', which latter is normally. pressed against the plunger by a spring f, as shown in Fig. 8. A The plunger has a slot or groove 7' onlits face into which the'said finger or knock-out device 7 is adapted to slide when theplunger moves downward. The

said plunger is also provided with cams f j adapted'to engage rolls f on the finger f, whereby the latter is caused to move outwardly when the plunger moves down, as shown in F ig.,9. This throws .the carton out of the machine,as the cover of the carton slides down over the finger 7". When the carton is stripped from t e plunger,

of the groove'or slot f, serve to deflect the cover outwardly and over the finger or knock-out device f when the plunger moves downward.

Above the plunger is astationary form having downwardly projecting and voutwardly extending folders g at each side thereof. These folders engage the side walls e to fold the same downward when the plunger moves upward. The upper portion of said folders g are vertical and parallel, being in the form of side walls,'and slide on'the side of the carton duringthe upward movement of the latter. This sliding action also occurs when the carton moves downward after being formed, as'formerly explained. The ends of the blank are fed into channels 9 disposed at opposite ends of the form. It will be seen that the central portion of each channel is slightly depressed, sothat the overhanging portions 9 will cause the end walls 6 of the blank to be depressed considerably below the flaps e 6, which latter will rest upon the shoulders 9 The blanks are fed into these channels g by the feed rolls b and the motion inv this direction form, and which are mounted upon the sta= tionary frame of the machine, serve to' en-.

The motion continu- ,ing,- the folders 9 one at each end of the gage the flaps 6 thus causing these flaps to fold faster than the flaps 6 "In. this way the flaps are folded one overithe other upon the outer surfaces of th eend walls, the flaps 6 always resting inside of the flaps e, as shown in Fig. 16. The folding of the flaps wupon the outer surfaces of the end walls is further insured by theend folders g which are carried by the lower end of the member 9 and which engage the end walls e to fold the same quickly downwardly at right angles to the bottom 6, and the flaps then fold into place on the said end walls. ber g is co-extensive with and bears upon the bottom e, asthe plunger moves upward. This member 9 has a vertical stem-or shank -g which is connected with the springs g whereby it is held normally in the position shown in Fig. 4. These springs, however, yield to the pressure of the plunger, so that The said memduring the folding of theblank the 'member g moves upward to permit the folded carton to finally come to rest within the square or rectangular form G, in the manner explained, and with the cover e in the vertical plane of one side wall of the square corner carton thus made. To obtain the best results, the said cover a is preferably disposed at the puter side of the machine, and the folding and other devices are arranged to afford clearance for said cover, thus preventing breakage of the latter and insuring the desired results. When the blank is thus folded, it is secured, in place by staples e which are inserted through the flaps and end walls of the box. These staples are driven by any ordinary or suitable stapling mechanisms, such, for example, as the staplers H,

which latter involve the usual staple formers and drivers, anvils and loop blISyGlZQ. The wire for the staples is carried on reels I, and the said wire is fed to the two horizontally disposed staplers by means of the automatic feed devices J, which latter are connected for simultaneous operation by a link j, in the manner shown in Fig. 2. The said wire feeding mechanisms are operated by means of the rod or link j which extends down? ward to a lever j* as shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that this lever has its rear end pivoted'at j and is provided with a roll j that engages a cam j on the shaft C. The spring j holds the lever normally downward, and when the shaft 'C is rotated the rod y" is reciprocated to operate the wire feeding mechanisms. The said staplers are operated by elbow or bell crank levers i which are pivoted on the frame of the machine, and which are connected by rods or pitmen z" with the lever i This lever isv held normally upward by springs 2' (See Figs. 2 and 4.) The said lever is pivoted at its rear endat f and has a pin or roll 2" adapted to engage the groove of the cam 11 on the shaft C. (See Fig. 4.) Thus rotation of the shaft causes the reciprocation of the rods or pitmen i with the consequent operation of the staplers. When actuated, the staplers drive the staples e through the flaps and end walls of the carton to hold the same in shape.

From the foregoing, therefore, it willbe seen that I provide a machine for automatically folding and stapling blanks to produce cartons or boxes which are square or rectangular in form, having square corners, the sides and end walls of,each carton or box extending at right angles to each other and at right angles to the bottom, and one side wall having an integral cover which is handled by the'machin'e in a manner to prevent folding thereof during the making of the carton. The blanks are carried in superimposed condition in the hopper, and are automatically fed one by one from the bot tom thereof, and with the cover 6? in advance, to the forming or foldingmechanism. Each blank is then automatically folded tightly upon the square or rectangular plun-- ger, by the folding'devices described, and a single staple is then inserted in each end of the carton or box to hold the same in shape. The folding of a blank to provide a carton of this form having square corners and an integral cover involves many difiiculties and problems heretofore not encountered in the production of receptacles, but

by my invention these are overcome and solved in a practical manner.

' For the broader purposes of my invention,

do not limit myself to the exact construe tion shown and described, or to the production' of cartons-or boxes of the exact shape and form illustrated herein. If desired, the same maybe of the form shown in Fig. 18, which requires two staples, for each end of the box. In Fig. 19 the flaps are outside, butfdo not lap. In Fig. 20 the flaps are inside. Obviously, the machine can be constructed for making these or other cartons without departing from the spirit of my invention. Also, the drawings show the illustrative machine in such position that the plunger 1" moves upward to make the carton; but this may be changed or modified to suit the circumstances and requirements of other cases, and, for the broader purposes of my invention, .it will be understood that carton, automatic forming devices having means for folding the end flaps upon the ends, to form therewith the end walls of the,

carton, leaving the cover of the carton un folded, means for inserting fastening devices through the said flaps and ends to hold the carton in shape, certain of said forming devices having means for expelling the carton after formation thereof, and means for finally detaching the carton from the inachine.

2. A carton machine for making a square corner carton by folding and fastening a blank having an integral cover, comprising means for feeding the blank into position for folding, automatic devides for completely folding the sides and ends of'the blank at right angles to the bottom of" the carton, and to each other, automatic forming devices having means for causingthe flaps which are integral with the sides to be folded upon the outer surfaces of the ends, to form therea with the end walls of the carton, leaving the cover of the carton unfolded, means for stapling the, said flaps and ends together,

certain of said forming devices having means for expelling the carton after formation thereof, and means fpr finally detaching the carton from the machine.

3. A'vcarton machine for making a square 5 corner carton by folding and fastening a blank having an integral cover, comprising means for automatically feeding the blank material, automatic devices for folding the sides and ends of. the blank at right angles to the bottom of the carton, automatic forming devices having means' for folding the end flaps upon the ends, to form therewith the end Walls of the carton, leaving the cover of the carton unfolded, means for inserting fastening devices through the said Lfiaps and ends to hold the carton in shape, certain .of said forming devices having means for expelling the carton after formation thereof, and means for finally detaching the carton from the machine.

4. A carton machine for making a square corner carton by folding and fastening a blank having an integral cover, comprising means for automatically feeding the blank material, automatic devices for "folding the sides and ends of the blank at right angles to the bottom of the carton, and to each other, automatic forming devices havingmeans for causing the flaps which are inteouter surfaces of the ends, to form therewith the end walls of the carton, leaving the cover of the carton unfolded, means for inserting fastening devices through the said flaps and ends to'hold the carton inshape, certain of said forming devices having means for expelling the carton after formation thereof, and means for finally detaching the carton from the machine.

5. A carton machine for making a square corner carton by folding and fastening a blank having an integralcover, comprising a hopper for holding the blanks, means for 1 feeding the blanks from the bottom thereof,

automatic devices for folding the sides and ends of the-.blank at right angles to the bot-' 'tom of the carton, automatic 'formlng devices having means for folding the end flaps upon the ends, to form therewith the end Walls of the carton, leavingthecover of the carton unfolded, means for inserting fastenmg devices through the said flaps and ends to hold the carton in shape, certain of said forming devices having means for expelling the carton after formation thereof, and means for finally detaching the carton from the machine. y

6. Acarton machine for making a-square corner carton by folding and fastening a blank having an integral cov'er, comprising a hopper for holding'the blanks, means for feeding the blanks from the bottom thereof, automatic devicesfor folding the sides and ends of the blank at right angles to the bottom of the carton, and to each other, auto- .gral with the sides to be folded upon the matid forming devices having means for causing the flaps which are integral with the sides to be folded upon the outer surfaces,

ofthe ends, to form therewith the end walls corner carton by folding and fastening ablank having an integral cover, comprising automatic devices for folding the sides and ends of the blank at right angles to the bot- 1 tom of the carton, automatic forming devices having means for folding the end flapupon the ends, to form therewith the end walls'of the carton, leaving the coverof the carton unfolded, means for inserting fastening devices through the said flaps and ends to hold the carton in shape, means including a reciprocating support for' the blanks to feed the same forward, certain of said forming devices having means for expelling the carton after formation thereof,

and means for finally detaching the carton from the machine.

8. In. a carton machine for making a square corner carton by folding and fastening a blank having an integral cover, comprising automatic devices for folding. the

sides and ends of the blank at right angles to the bottom of the carton, and to each other, automatic forming devices having tegral with the sides to be folded upon the outer surfaces of the ends, to form there- 'means for causing the flaps which are in-.

with the end walls of the carton, leaving the cover of thecarton'unfolded, means for stapling the said flaps and ends together,

means including a reciprocating support for the blanks to feed the same forward, certain of said forming devices having means for.

expelling the carton after formation thereof, and means for finally detaching the carton from the machine.

9. A carton machine'for making a'square corner carton byfolding and fastening a blank having an integral cover, comprising automatic devices for folding the sides and ends of the blank at right angles to the bottom of the carton, automatic forming de-- vices having means for folding the endfiaps' upon the ends, to form -therewith the end walls of the carton, leaving the cover of the carton unfolded, means for inserting fastening devices through the said flaps and ends to hold the carton'in shape, means including a pair of rollers for feeding the blanks forward, certain of said forming devices having means for expelling the carton after.

formation thereof, and means for finally detaching the carton from the machine.

10. A carton machine for makinga square corner carton by folding and fastening a blank having an integral cover, comprising automatic devices for folding the sides and ends of the blank at right angles to the. bottom of the carton, and to each other, automatic forming devices having means for causing the flaps which are integral with the sides to be folded upon the outer surfaces of the ends, to form therewith the end walls of the carton, leaving the cover of the carton unfolded, means for stapling the said flaps and ends together, means including a pair of rollers for feeding the blanks for Ward, certain of said forming devices having means for expelling the carton after formation thereof, and means for finally detaching the carton from the machine.

11. A carton machine for making a square corner carton by folding and fastening a blank having an integral cover, comprising a reciprocatingtable for feeding the blanks, feed rolls for taking the blanks from said table, automatic forming devices having means for folding the sides and ends of the blank at' right angles to the bottom of the carton, automatic devices for folding the end flaps upon the ends, to form therewith the end walls of the carton, leaving the cover of the carton unfolded, means for inserting fastening devices through the said flaps and ends to hold the carton in shape, certain of said forming devices having means for expelling the carton after the formation thereof, and means for finally detaching the carton from the machine.

12. Acarton machine for making a square 1 corner carton by folding and fastening a blank having an integral cover, comprising a reciprocating table for feeding the blanks, feed rolls for taking the blanks from said table, automatic forming devices having means for folding the sides and ends of the blank at right angles to the bottom of thecarton, and to each other, automatic devices for causing the flaps which are integral with the sides to be folded upon the outer surfaces of the ends, to form therewith the end walls of the carton, leaving the cover of the carton unfolded, means for stapling the said flaps and ends together, certain of said forming devices having means for expelling the carton after formation thereof, and means for finally detaching the carton from the machine. 7

13. In" a machine of the class described, the combination of a plunger, a form, channels at opposite ends ofthe form, said chan-' nels shaped to depress the ends of the blank below the flaps which are integral with the sides ofithe blank, means on the form for causing the ends to fold first and the sides afterward, devices for causing one flap to fold uponthe other, at each end of the blank,

and means for stapling the flaps and ends together.

14. A. carton machine of the class described, comprising a reciprocating plunger and form, strippers associated with the plunger, to dislodge the carton from the plun-' ger, and an automatic knock-out operated by the motion of the plunger to expel the dislodged carton from the machine.

15. A carton machine for making a square corner carton by folding and fastening a blank having an integral cover, comprising 16. In an automatic carton machine for making a square corner carton by folding and fastening a blank having an integral cover, means for folding and forming the square corner ends of the carton, leaving the cover of the carton unfolded, means for stapling the saidends, and means for feeding the stock, said 'machine having means for clamping the bottom of the carton during the folding operation.

17. In an automatic carton machine, means for feeding the material with a cover which is integral therewith, means for forming the material into a box, leaving the cover of the carton unfolded, and means for stapling only the ends of the box, said machine having means for clamping the bottomof the carton during the folding operation. 18. An automatic carton machine for making a square corner carton by folding and fastening a blank having an integral cover, comprising means for feeding flat sheets of material from a hopper, means for, forming the same, leaving the cover of the carton unfolded and hanging downward, and means for stapling only the ends of the carton together. c 19. An automatic carton machine for making a' square corner carton by folding and carton from the returning plunger.

. 21. A carton machine for making a square corner carton from a blank having-integral bottom and side and end wall sections, and

having integral flaps and a cover section in tegral with one side wall section,comprising, in combination, (1) a reciprocating plunger, (2) elements cooperating with said plunger to fold the side and end walls of the blank at right angles to the bottom wall thereof, leaving said cover unfolded in the plane of one side wall, and for causing the flaps to fold at right angles to the side walls, some of said elements being stationary and others being movable during the folding operation, (3) mechanism for fastening together the flaps and end walls, after the plunger reaches the final position thereof, (4) means to clamp the bottom section against the advancing plunger, arranged forcompelling the finished carton to follow sa'id plunger when the motion thereof is reversed, and (5) a device to detach the car-. ton from the returning plunger.

' 22. A carton machine for making a square corner carton from a blank having integral 1 bottom and side and end wall sections, and

having integral flaps and a cover section integral with one side wall section,comprising, in combination, (1) a reciprocating plunger, (2) elements cooperating with said plunger to fold the side and end walls of the blank at right angles to the bottom wall thereof, leaving said cover unfolded in the plane of one side wall, and for causing the flaps to-fold at right angles to the side- 'Walls, some of said elements being stationary and others being movable during the folding operation, (3) mechanism including oppositely disposed and simultaneously ope'rated staplers arranged to insert only a single staple in each end of the carton for fastening together the flaps and end walls, after the plunger reaches the final position thereof, (4) means to clamp the bottomsection against the advancing plunger, ar

ranged for compelling the finished carton to follow said plunger when the motion thereof is reversed, and (5) a device to detach the 23. A carton machine for making asquare corner carton from a blank having integral plunger 'to fold the side and end walls of f the blank at right angles to the bottom wall thereof, leaving said cover unfolded in the plane of one side wall, and forcausing the flaps to fold at right angles to the side walls, some of said elements being stationary and others being movableduring the folding operation, (3) mechanism-for fastening together the flaps and end walls, after the plunger reaches the final position thereof,

(4) means to clamp the bottom section against the advancing plunger, arranged for compelling the finished carton to follow said 24. A carton machine for making a square corner carton from a blank having integral bottom and-side and end wall sections, and having integral flaps and a cover section integral with one side wall secti0n, comprising, in combination, (1) a reciprocating plunger, (2) elements cooperating with said plunger to fold the side and end walls of the blank at rightangles to the bottom wall thereof,nle'aving said cover unfolded in the plane of one side wall, and for causingthe flaps to fold at right angles to the side walls,

thereof is reversed, two of said elements" consisting of vertical plates arranged to hold the side sections against the plunger, said member reciprocating between the parallel inner surfaces of said plates, and (5) a device to detach the carton from the returning plunger.

25. A carton machine for making a square corner carton from a blank having integral bottom and side and end wall sections, and having integral flaps and a cover section integral with one side wall section,comprising, in combination, (1) a reciprocating plunger, (2) elements cooperating'with said plunger tozlfold the side and end walls of the blank at right angles 'to the bottom wall thereof, leaving said cover unfolded in the plane of one side wall, and for causing the flaps to fold at .rightangles to the side walls,

some of said elements being stationary and 7 others being movable. during the folding operation, (3) mechanism forfastening together the flaps and end walls," after the.

plunger reaches the final position thereof,

(4:) means to clamp the bottom section against the advancing plunger, arranged for compelling the finished carton to follow said plunger When the motion thereof is shaft to operate said plunger, and for actuating said mechanism While said, plun- 1C ger is stationary.

Signed'by me at Saint Joseph, Michigan, this 18th day of June, 1909.

EDWARD CRAIG.

Witnesses HARRY HAGER, OTHMAR LYON. 

